(Johan tuning up Paul Martin's Taylor before our first tracking session...)
Man, how time flies when you're having fun. Upon reflection, I can say it had been one of the most rewarding and challenging years of my life.
Rewarding in the sense that I am really proud of the creative work. Last Friday night at High Chaparral up near Värnamo, Sweden, we played to a light crowd at what is Sweden's newest country festival. The gang at High Chaparral did a great job. The place is made for country. In the crowd, people were actually singing along with my songs. Probably the biggest compliment an artist can receive. Sure, if there were another thousand people doing it, it would have blown my mind. But the fact that we blasted away on original music for the entire seventy-five minute set (minus one song to wrap things up by the Marshall Tucker Band), while people were doing air guitar solos along with us was enough to make it worthwhile for me and the band. The number of record reviews, all averaging "4 Stars" since the release in September (the latest in Maverick Magazine's July issue..."A skilled tunesmith with a great turn of phrase and the ability to get to the heart of the matter..."), has been heartwarming. The fact that we have secured a couple of festival shows that are prime-time headliner slots is an honor. Having received radio airplay all over the world in 22 different countries doesn't hurt either. Not to mention, when I listen I can appreciate the energy of the record after a year. What an experience to have pulled together a second album! So, yeah...rewarding.
(Johan with the great Robby Turner)
Challenging too! To keep things on an even keel, all the nice stuff above has been mirrored by some of the most intensive output I have experienced, as well. All the late nights putting the music out there & all of the money invested to do just that. The time and energy spent securing live shows. The constant need to be pushing against the universe in order to create an opening for one more artist trying to get their music heard, among hundreds of thousands of them. The tole on the spirit when radio promotions that cost big bucks don't fly and there seems to be no other way than to keep throwing money at it in order to be considered serious as an artist. Exhaustion of creative time to cover all the necessary business time. People who stand at the front of the stage who don't recognize (and don't care) that you're even playing original music, and hollerin' for you to play Willy Nelson songs.
(James Mitchell tuning up, with Amy Courts in the 2nd vocal booth & Larry winding up)
What have I discovered? Well, no surprises here...it requires a dedicated team of people, I believe. And if not a dedicated team of people, a healthy level of detachment from the tortoise pace of progress. For me, backing tracks are not an option, and acoustic performances are nice, but don't connect quite the same way as a six-piece band in terms of impact & return energy. For those out touring acoustically and getting paid for it - well done! For those booking shows for a six-piece country band playing original music in Sweden, congrats! If you are doing it all on your own - even bigger congratulations. It's a full time job, really, if an artist is to make it work. My respect goes out to every single independent artist who has ever tried to make a go of it with their own material!
(Larry Marrs working out some acoustic tracks)
(Mark Beckett's drum kit)
(Engineer Jimmy Tarbutton setting up for some guitar & steel solo overdubs)
(Front of the coolest t-shirt ever made with my name on it! The things we do for love!)
In the meantime...play it loud!
//Evan
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